Those seeking to clear their criminal records can now do so online.
Thousands of people in Pennsylvania apply annually to have their record cleared of criminal convictions, and the Commonwealth recently launched an online application for pardons to digitize the process.
The Board of Pardons, made up of five members, approves applications with the governor. Applicants seek the clearing of their criminal record because it interferes with applying for jobs, housing, and more.
Before the newly digitized option, applicants had to mail in a paper application along with the necessary documents. The process was known to take years for some applications to be fully processed.
The effort to digitize the process was initiated under former Governor Wolf’s administration and continued by Governor Shapiro’s administration. Shapiro’s staff worked with the Commonwealth Office of Digital Experience to complete the process.
The Commonwealth Office of Digital Experience includes a team of experienced technology experts. The office was created in 2023 to make the state government more easily accessible to residents online.
Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis said the newly digitized process will make it easier for more people to apply, as well as allow for easier application processing by Board of Pardons staff.
“We took the time to update and improve the process from soup to nuts, from adding a Spanish language form, which is something that we had been hearing, to using AI to help us process handwritten applications that were previously being retyped by staff members,” said Davis in a recent interview.
More than 240 people have utilized the online application form since it launched. The application is located on the Board of Pardons website. Paper applications are still an option for those wishing to apply. The Board of Pardons is also able to mail applications to people who cannot print one at home.
The new online application is available in 18 languages, while the printable paper version is only available in English and Spanish.
Applicants are required to submit several documents for consideration, as well as a personal statement explaining why they are seeking a pardon and the improvements they have made.
